While talking about how Sam Darnold has been developing during the offseason, Adam Gase gave the impression that Darnold has been obsessively asking questions about and watching film of PeytonManning.

Darnold would obviously love to emulate Manning's success in Gase's system and it would be a dream come true for Gase if Darnold can run his system as efficiently.

Is this a realistic goal, though?

Manning, on whose recommendation Gase was reportedly offered the head coach job in January, had the best statistical season of his career and went to a Super Bowl with Gase as his offensive coordinator.

However, he was already a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback with a wealth of experience. In fact, for much of his career, it was said that he didn't need an offensive coordinator, because he carried out that role himself, on the field.

Darnold, on the other hand, is entering his second season following an inconsistent rookie campaign. Jets fans are extremely excited about how good he looked down the stretch, though. If Gase's system proves to be the ideal system for him, perhaps he can develop as swiftly as Manning himself did.

When Manning entered the NFL, he was viewed as the surest of sure things. By contrast, while Darnold was a highly respected prospect, experts still had concerns about his accuracy, mechanics and pocket presence. However, there are similarities if you look at their body of work in the college game.

Manning was a four-year starter, mainly because he opted to stay in school for another year rather than be drafted by the Jets. Conversely, Darnold came out early, so he only had two years as a starter. A direct comparison of those two years with Manning's last two years at Tennessee shows that they were uncannily similar statistically.

Their rookie seasons weren't altogether dissimilar either. Manning passed for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns while Darnold only passed for 2,865 and 17 touchdowns, albeit in three fewer games. Darnold also posted a better completion percentage, a better touchdown-to-interception ratio and won four games to Manning's three.

It may seem far-fetched for Darnold to ascend as fast as Manning, who led the Colts to 13-3 in his second season and went to the Pro Bowl, but it's certainly a good measuring stick to gauge his progress against.

Manning did things throughout his career, especially in his later years in Gase's system, that had a multitude of positive impacts. His ability to recognize blitzes, change protections at the line, anticipate where the pressure was coming from and get the ball out quickly would mitigate any deficiencies in his offensive line, by not exposing them to difficult matchups where they'd have to sustain their blocks.

It would be huge for the Jets if Darnold could do the same for their beleaguered line.

That's not all, though. Manning's ability to pick apart opposing defenses got all his receivers involved in the offense and made for a versatile attack. Also, he was able to make pre-snap reads that not only benefited the passing game, but the running game too, as he was able to audible out of runs he could see would fail.

Darnold isn't Manning, but at the same time he brings more mobility to the table, especially when compared with the post-neck injury Manning that excelled with Gase. Manning also didn't throw the corner route very often late in his career, whereas that's a pass Darnold has had some good success with.

It would be concerning if Darnold tried to become Peyton Manning overnight. You need to be able to walk before you can run and it would be dangerous for Darnold to put too much on his plate before he is ready. That was something that seemed to affect Geno Smith as his development stalled early on in his career.

Some additional reports have suggested that Darnold has also been watching film on Jay Cutler, which is probably a good sign because it suggests Darnold is not just obsessed with Manning and instead is looking to take different attributes that can work within Gase's system and add them to his own game.

So long as Darnold takes a pragmatic approach to following in Manning's footsteps, it could set him on a viable development path. Darnold needs to adapt his own game to add the most beneficial attributes to it, in much the same way as Gase should be adapting his offensive system to make the best use of what Darnold does well.

By Alex Smith | Jun 5 | 9:07PM

Jets safety Jamal Adams joined others in Dallas amid protests against police brutality and racial injustice, following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

The Gang Green safety posted a photo and video to his Instagram story, showing himself walking in downtown Dallas with his fist raised.

The Pro Bowl safety re-shared the video on Twitter, quoting the late rapper Nipsey Hussle in saying "They say every man is defined by his reaction to any given situation. Well who would you want to define you? Someone else or yourself?"

Some of the NFL's biggest stars - its biggest African-American stars, at least - aligned late Thursday night in a powerful video that clearly resonated deep in the NFL's Park Avenue offices Their message, that Black Lives Matter, that racism and oppression is unacceptable, is obviously one everyone needs to hear.

But it was more than that. They had a pointed message for the league office. They challenged the NFL to do the right thing - the thing the league should have done four years ago when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem. They asked - demanded - the league to "admit wrong in silencing our players from peacefully protesting."

Remarkably, that's what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did, with his own video on Friday night. Though he didn't repeat the players' words exactly, he did "admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest." It was even more remarkable that his video came just hours after an inflammatory tweet from the President that again targeted players for kneeling during the national anthem.

Protecting Sam Darnold by rebuilding the offensive line has been the top priority for the Jets this offseason, as the team drafted Mekhi Becton with the 11th pick, signed Connor McGovern, George Fant, and Greg Van Roten, and also re-signed Alex Lewis.

NFL sources evaluate Joe Douglas' performance in first year as Jets GM

At one-year mark, SNY asks sources around the league... how much better is Gang Green?

By Ralph Vacchiano | Jun 5 | 12:18PM

Joe Douglas was hired by the Jets one year ago Sunday, becoming the latest GM entrusted to turn the franchise around. He was hailed as a well-respected football lifer. His friendship with Adam Gase promised a more functional front office. Many around the league thought the Jets had finally gotten it right.

So one year later, did they? Are they better off now than they were on June 6, 2019?

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Jets' Jamal Adams responds to Laura Ingraham's on-air comments: 'How does she still have a job?'

Ingraham said Drew Brees should be 'allowed' a political opinion, in contrast to her thoughts on LeBron James and Kevin Durant

In response to Fox News host Laura Ingraham's contrasting views on which athletes should be allowed to discuss politics, Jets safety Jamal Adams weighed in on Wednesday, saying "How does she still have a job?"

Adams' comments came after Ingraham said New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees should be "allowed" to share his views regarding "kneeling and what the flag means."

"He's allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means," Ingraham said Tuesday night on Fox News. "Take him, he's a person. He has some worth, I would imagine. This is beyond football, though. This is totalitarian conduct. This is Stalinist. And by the way, on the streets of New Orleans -- we're looking at live pictures -- they're shouting 'F Drew Brees'. That's what this moment has done to the beautiful team spirit of the New Orleans Saints."

Jets GM Joe Douglas has had a great offseason filling holes on his roster for the 2020 season. And after Trumaine Johnson's contract finally came off the books on Tuesday, he has an extra $11 million to work with.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Jets have around $24.7 million still available to spend, and that's a good chunk of change to get an impact player for next season.

So who could Douglas still target on the free agent market who would be worth giving a contract to? The answer is found when lookint at the other holes that still remain -- cornerback and edge rusher being the top two.

With that in mind, here's who Douglas can look at on the market, starting with someone who has been linked to Gang Green for a minute now...

Jets GM Joe Douglas took initiative in the first offseason in his new role, and made some solid roster upgrades for the 2020 season.

It should lead to some Jets having big seasons on the stat sheet.

A revamped offensive line, new receiving pieces, and additions to the secondary are just a few moves that were made. And after Trumaine Johnson's contract finally came off the books on Tuesday, Douglas now has even more cap room to upgrade some more.

Jets share thoughts on death of George Floyd in statement

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

The Jets have released a statement following the death of George Floyd after his arrest by a Minnesota police officer. It comes after a team meeting on Monday where players, coaches, and executives all shared potential ways they could impact their communities in a positive manner during these hard times.

Here's the full statement:

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE STATEMENT

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Source: NFL teams likely to ask for pay cuts if games played with no fans

An agent told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano 'share the pain' is the catch phrase

An NFL agent has informed SNY's Ralph Vacchiano that NFL teams are "already signaling" that pay cuts will be asked for from the players if games are played without fans during the 2020 season.

In his latest article that addresses the big questions surrounding the potential delay for the start of the season, Vacchiano reached out to sources regarding monetary issues that could arise like it has elsewhere, especially in Major League Baseball.

And yes, that could very well be a fight the NFL and NFLPA will have to go through, too. Here's what Vacchiano wrote:

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Which New York wide receiver will have the most 2020 receiving yards?

SNY's Jeane Coakley and Chris Williamson discuss

By SNY Newsdesk | Jun 2 | 7:00PM

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Jamison Crowder could be the focal point of the Jets' passing attack, though Breshad Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims should also have large roles.

Meanwhile, Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton give the Giants a strong trio at the receiver position as well.

But which New York receiver will have the most yards in 2020? SNY's Jeane Coakley and Chris Williamson discuss the odds for each player's yardage production in the latest edition of What are the Odds?

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NFL sources remain optimistic about 2020 season: 'We have plenty of time to figure out the details'

The NBA and NHL are seemingly finalizing plans to hold their playoffs in "bubble cities" this summer. Major League Baseball and its players union are trying to bridge their financial gap to begin their season in early July. Golf, auto racing, soccer and other sports are back, or on their way.

So what about the NFL?

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Jets' Jamal Adams shares his voice amid protests following death of George Floyd

'I've been struggling with the pain from daily injustices in America'

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New York Jets strong safety Jamal Adams (33) jogs on the field prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

The sports world has joined the masses in protesting and sharing their voice following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. Add Jets S Jamal Adams to that group.

Adams took to his Twitter page on Monday night to give his two cents on the matter. Here's what he had to say:

Why Jets tight ends could be key to offensive success in 2020

Chris Herndon or Ryan Griffin? It doesn't matter as long as there's consistent production

The Jets' first year in Adam Gase's offense isn't what anyone wanted to see. New York finished last in the NFL in yards per game (273.0), fourth-worst in passing yards (194.4), second-worst in rushing yards (78.6) and second-worst in points per game (17.3).

Yes, Sam Darnold did miss the chunk of the early regular season, and the Jets saw improvement when he returned. But with Le'Veon Bell struggling to get anything going in his much-awaited return and the offensive line being extremely porous among other issues, it's safe to say this group needs a massive amount of improvement in 2020.

That's why GM Joe Douglas went out and fixed up the O-line and added a couple weapons at wide receiver in Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims. But there is one position group that could mesh everything together in this offensive rebuild.

How will Joe Flacco, Frank Gore, and Denzel Mims impact the Jets?

Watch FNNY: Living Room Edition on Fridays at 2:30 p.m.

By SNY Newsdesk | May 29 | 2:30PM

On FNNY: Living Room Edition, the crew looks at the impact of new Jets additions Joe Flacco, Frank Gore, and Denzel Mims, and also "Jets To Know" Mekhi Becton.

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7 of the most underrated Jets of the last 20 years

Two receivers and a running back crack the list

By Alex Smith | May 29 | 9:43AM

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Over the last two decades, the Jets have had some very good teams, and some not quite as good.

Overall, Gang Green finished .500 or better in 11 of the last 20 seasons, though the team hasn't finished with a winning record since 2015.

Along the way, the Jets have had plenty of star players don the Green and White, but they've also had some very valuable role players who may not have gotten all the accolades that they deserved during their tenure in New York.

Jets' Joe Flacco 'fully embracing' new backup role to Sam Darnold

Former Super Bowl MVP will be backup QB for the first time

By Alex Smith | May 28 | 8:26PM

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Joe Flacco will enter the NFL season in a way that he's never done so before - as a backup.

A starter for 11 years in Baltimore and then one more in Denver (though a neck injury ultimately paved the way for Drew Lock to take over), Flacco will enter training camp with the Jets as the backup behind Sam Darnold.

The 35-year-old former Super Bowl Champion knows things will be different for him in 2020, but he's ready to take the next step in his career.

Quincy Enunwa's 2016 season saw him break out for 857 yards with the Jets. But following two serious neck injuries - one that kept him out all of 2017 and another that held him to just one game in 2019 and landed him on the PUP list for 2020, ending his season again - Enunwa's playing career has been put in jeopardy.

But the soon-to-be 28-year-old still wants to play.

In an interview with ESPN's Rich Cimini, Enunwa talked about the challenges, both mental and physical, of missing out on the game he loves, while also saying he still has the passion to play, if he's physically able.

Here's where the Jets land on ESPN's Football Power Index for 2020 season

Gang Green finds itself at the bottom of the pack

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is chased by Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace (39) on a run in the first quarter at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN released its annual "Football Power Index" for the first time ahead of the 2020 NFL season. It accounts for everything from Vegas Sportbooks' win totals for each team, last season's stats and much more.

While GM Joe Douglas brought in some solid reinforcements this offseason, the power index wasn't too kind to the Jets.

After running through the calculations, the Jets fell in at No. 25 on the list of 32 teams. They are projected to have 6.8 wins this season, and only hold a 24 percent chance of making the playoffs.

See what led to Mekhi Becton, Denzel Mims and others getting drafted by Gang Green

By SNY Newsdesk | May 27 | 1:29PM

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The 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any that we've ever seen before. Conducted remotely, every team faced challenges in processes leading up to the big weekend and during that draft itself that required quick thinking, and more importantly, trusting your gut.

That's exactly what GM Joe Douglas and the rest of the Jets staff did, as Douglas put together a fine draft class. How did he get to this point in his first ever draft at the helm?

Well, in the first episode of One Jets Drive, full access was given -- or as much as was allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic -- leading up to draft day. Douglas, head coach Adam Gase, and many others gave their analysis of the Jets' picks. Take first-round pick Mekhi Becton for instance.

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Jets' Joe Flacco won't be ready for start of season, but he's ready for challenge of new offense

Joe Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Jets last week, knowing full well that he was joining the team to be the backup to Sam Darnold.

But for the 35-year-old Super Bowl-winning quarterback, his deal with the Jets is a chance to get back to playing the game he loves.

Flacco had neck surgery in April, after playing eight games of what turned out to be his only season with the Denver Broncos. Now, he's anxiously awaiting to do whatever he can for Gang Green, though he knows his recovery still has a quite some time to go.

The Jets and Giants can now open their facilities

"Professional sports teams in NJ may return to training and even competition - if their leagues choose to move in that direction," Murphy said in a statement. "We have been in constant discussions with teams about necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, and personnel."

The above gives the Jets and Giants clearance to open their facilities under the NFL's protocol, meaning limited business/front office staff can return.

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7 times the Jets got the best of Tom Brady and the Patriots

A look back at the times Gang Green defeated Brady and company

By John Erikson and Alex Smith | May 25 | 2:11PM

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Tom Brady is now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Jets should be glad to see him out of the AFC East. Brady had the Jets' number during his Pats career, going 29-7 against them in the regular season (though one of those loses came in a game Brady didn't start) and 1-1 in the playoffs.

But here are seven times the Jets took care of business against Brady.

1. On Dec. 22, 2002, the Jets defeated the Patriots 30-17, and went on to edge out the Pats as AFC East champs the following week. The Jets went 7-2 following head coach Herm Edwards' 'You play to win the game' speech.

Source: The Jets have no intention of trading Jamal Adams

Adams, who is entering the fourth year of his $22.2 million rookie contract, wants his money now

By Ralph Vacchiano | May 22 | 1:04PM

The Jets have no intention of trading Jamal Adams despite their latest impasse in contract negotiations, according to a source. And they expect that they will eventually sign him to a lucrative contract that, as promised, will make him a "Jet for life."

That has long been the plan, as both CEO Christopher Johnson and GM Joe Douglas have repeatedly said, and nothing has changed even though Adams' camp has grown frustrated with the pace of recent talks. As Douglas promised, he reached out to Adams' agents shortly after the draft for initial discussions about a contract. But the Jets' position is they want to wait before giving him a long-term extension.

Adams, who is entering the fourth year of his four-year, $22.2 million rookie contract, wants his money now.